Dec 3 Mike Espy Readies for 2020 Rematch in Mississippi

A committee for recently defeated Mississippi Senate candidate Mike Espy filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Friday (Espy’s 65th birthday) declaring his intention to run for Senate again in 2020. The Democrat was defeated by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in a heated runoff election by just eight points. Hyde-Smith made comments about attending a “public hanging,” attended a segregationist high school, sent her daughter to a segregationist high school, and talked about voter suppression. Filing with the FEC will give Espy a chance to get a head start on fundraising. The Espy campaign raised $7 million in eight months. Now, Espy will have two years to bring in donations. And given that 2020 is a presidential election year, voter turnout would be significantly higher. "We flipped four counties that voted for Trump in 2016 and outperformed Obama and Clinton," former Espy campaign Communications Director Danny Blanton told the Jackson Free Press Friday afternoon. "Nobody, no Democrat had done what we did in the state of Mississippi since 1982." More here.

Inside the Beltway, outside the box.

The Beat DC highlights diverse political leaders in the nation’s capital and the policies that impact communities of color. Tracking politics, policy, comings and goings, this platform has the pulse of diverse influencers and stakeholders across all facets of the Beltway. From our daily tipsheet to our weekly podcast, we keep you in the know. Email us your photos, events, news, video links, published blogs, and other items to info@thebeatdc.com.